2017 Silverado 1/2 ton with 6.2 liter and 3.23 gears 4” or 6” lift kit/tires/gears help/questions

BBChevy2017 · April 8, 2020

Dear members, I am new to this forum so I am hoping I came to the right place for some help.

I recently purchased a 2017 Chevy Silverado Z71 Crew Cab Standard Bed with 6.2 liter and 3.23 gears.

I am going to buy a lift kit for my truck, but having a hard time deciding what size due to gear ratio. With a lot of research I have decided to go with BDS lift with the Fox 2.0 shocks. I will be going with 18x9 wheels.

My stock tires are 275/55/20 (31.9” tall). If I go 4” lift I will go 275/70/18 (33.6” tall) and if I go 6” I would go 285/70/18 (34.1” tall) or 295/70/18 (34.5” tall). I will be going with Toyo MT or Nitto Trail Grappler MT tires.

I love the look of a 6” lift, but worried with the 3.23 gears, the close to 35” would be too much for the truck and kill my power/mileage. I could always regear the truck if needed, but what to, 3.73 or 4.10? I love the stock performance and gas mileage I have now with stock tires. Would like to bring it back to what I have.

For looks, mileage, power and being practical, the 4” would probably be the best with 33” tires. Problem is, I don’t want the truck to end up looking like just a leveled truck. I want a nice stance to it. My 2012 Sierra with 4” Fabtech and 285/70/17 tires looked like a leveled truck. I believe the newer body styles are taller though so I am hoping the 4” will look bigger than my previous 2012.

Do any of you have experience with the 6.2 liter and lift kit/tire size combo gas mileage and power?

Also would it be possible for any of you that have the same truck as me with a 4” or 6” lift kit tell me what your front and rear measurements are from ground to bottom of wheel fender? Curious what the height is so I can compare to my stock truck.

Look forward to any of your advice in helping me decide what lift, tire size and gears I should go with that benefits my needs. Any help would be much appreciated.

Jetiemann · April 8, 2020

Youre going to lose performance any way you look at it. Youre not going to gain gas milage back with a regear. Maybe a little, but not enough for me to choose that over what i want my truck to look like. It sounds like you want a good lift, so go with the 6 and put some 35's on it. Or say **** it and go with 37's and regear to 4.10's and call it a day. If you dont go over 35's i wouldnt worry about a regear unless you just have money burning a hole in your pocket. Maybe do 3.73 or 4.10. I personally hate the small tire looks that a fair amount of lifted trucks have. I am all about cramming the biggest tire i can under the smallest lift. I dont mind doing some trimming though.

If you have access to E85 around you, i'd look into that as well. Worse gas mileage, but cheaper fuel, and 40-60hp gains. All you have to do is add the sensor and have someone turn it on for you with HPtuners or EFI Live.

I have the exact same truck. I leveled with 33.4" tires and i get about 16-17mph, but theyre heavy wheels and tires. Black Rhino 20x9 and 305/55r20 Nitto Ridge Grapplers E-rated

I'm looking into Method wheels (17" that are about 24lbs a piece) and BFG KO2's C rated that are lighter and softer for a better ride. I dont do a lot of hauling.

Edited April 8, 2020 by Jetiemann

BBChevy2017 · April 13, 2020

Thanks man for getting back to me. I appreciate the feedback. Gives me a good idea.

JONBLARC7 · April 14, 2020

I have a 2014 6.2 with cam and heads and the 6L80e, 3.42 gears and I agree with Jetiemann. If your going to run 35" or smaller I wouldn't worry about gears. I run a 22x12 and a 33" tire. When I bought this set up I contacted both manufacturers and asked for the weight of the tires and rims. I was suppose to come out to be 95 pound total for both together.

Now once I got them on the truck I weighed them at home and came up with 115 pounds on each corner. Now somebody lied to me LOL and I think it was Federal tire.

But I say all that because even with 115 pounds for a wheel and tire combo. With HP tuner tune and E85 is would still light the tires up off the line.

Jetiemann · April 14, 2020

Just for reference, my wheel and tire setup right now weighs about 82lbs. 20x9 305/55r20. I got 21mpg on the highway coming back from kansas to houston. ~550 miles. Granted there was a tailwind, but i'll take it. I had cruise control set to 70mph for the majority of the trip. The vast majority of the hills, the truck did not downshift.